🇬🇧🎙️Naomi Mellor on Bridging the Gender Gap in European Podcasting🎙️🇬🇧
Eurowaves #6 Interview
Naomi had an unusual route into the audio industry: self-taught as a podcaster, she started her first show in her bedroom alongside her career as a veterinarian, whilst realising her passion for podcasting and her desire to build a positive future for such an exciting new medium. Fast-forward 7 years, and Naomi now owns Everybody Media, through which she has developed a global network of industry connections from her work with the International Women's Podcast Awards and The Everybody Collective. She is a passionate advocate of improving inclusion in all aspects of the audio industry and has worked with brands including the BBC, Amazon Music, Wondery, Shure, Focusrite and Acast.
You can find Naomi on Linkedin.
Tell us about your journey from veterinary surgery to podcasting and community-building. How did these two seemingly different worlds collide?
Back in 2017, my partner's job took us to a new area of the UK, far from where we had previously lived. Up until that point, I had worked long hours, but after relocating, I was only able to find a part-time role as a veterinarian. With extra time on my hands, I decided to start a podcast as a side project—I had listened to a ton of podcasts and radio during my travels as a vet and thought I’d love to give it a try, which, looking back, seems completely ridiculous. Knowing absolutely nothing, I recorded my first episodes via Skype, learned to edit, and released my first podcast in 2018. This eventually led to producing several shows in the veterinary sector for clients, hosting at conferences, becoming more immersed in the podcasting world, and ultimately establishing The Collective and the International Women's Podcast Awards.
You founded The Skylark Collective, now The Everybody Collective, Europe’s first community for women and people of diverse genders in podcasting. What inspired you to create this space, and what impact do you hope it continues to have?
Before getting into podcasting, I had been part of women’s networks in the veterinary, horseracing, and sporting sectors. By 2018, I quickly realized there was a gap in Europe for a space where women could meet, connect, and support one another in their podcasting work. With a little more time on my hands during the pandemic, I launched The Skylark Collective in 2020, which became The Everybody Collective in 2022 when Everybody Media was founded. In 2021, I also had the idea to create a global awards program recognizing the work of women in audio, leading to the launch of the International Women's Podcast Awards. Both The Collective and the IWPAs continue to be spaces where people feel warmth and belonging—where there’s no such thing as a stupid question and where anyone who identifies as a woman knows that their work is heard, understood, and appreciated.
What are some of the stories that have stood out to you in these first years of the IWPA?
Wow, so many! I love the variety of what we get to hear. For me, it's often the stories behind the stories that truly resonate: Shelter in Place was produced daily for 100 days during the COVID lockdown, Sharing Plate highlights refugees and the incredible food from the countries they’ve had to leave behind, Culture Kids is created and hosted by one woman and her six-year-old son, and 28-ish Days Later is a show I’ve always thought should be on the school curriculum for both boys and girls to learn about the menstrual cycle. The show that stopped me in my tracks—literally—and that several judges also mentioned was Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children. And that’s just a few... I could go on all day!
Your podcast Smashing The Ceiling highlights people with unique and inspiring careers. Can you share a favorite episode or story that left a lasting impact on you?
Way back in January 2019, I spoke to trauma surgeon Jamie Coleman, now an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, and she was an incredible guest. This conversation really stuck with me. We talked about the immense pressure of making life-or-death decisions as a surgeon, how to "make failure your frenemy," and how to inspire confidence and calm in moments of extreme crisis—amongst many other things!
What advice would you give to women and marginalized genders looking to break into podcasting or grow their show?
Just start. You’ll learn as you go, you’ll make mistakes (we all do), and there will be times when you’re not thrilled with the outcome. But then there will be moments where you just know you've created something that will truly resonate with people—no matter what kind of show you’re making.
What’s one story (real or fictional) you’ve yet to tell but dream of producing one day?
I've written a fictional podcast set in a sauna, and I’m still really hoping to get it out into the world one day!